Bevel-gear-testing machine



Patented Apr, 12, 1927. l f

UNITED y STATES A 1,624,415. VP .f-i'r-EN'I OFFICE.

CHARLES I-I.LOGUE, OF SYR-ACUSE, NEW' YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE GLEASON WORKS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BEVELGEAR-TESTNG MACHINE.

VApplication led May 8,

This invention relates to a bevel gear testing machine, the main object ot' which is to detect and delinitely measure errors in cutting the teeth ot the gear due to mis" alinement of the generator tools or to necessary allowances which must be made in cutting the teeth to compensate for errors in the housing` or gear carrier.

The machine is also use'tul in vtesting the l teeth of spiral gears in that proper allowance may be made for distortion' due to hardening. j j

I am aware that certain gear testing devices 'having tapered pointersv have here-toiore been employed for ktesting straight teeth and while they are adapted' to indicate cross bearing,y they are not adapted to measure cross bearing'in connection with proportional tooth thickness; that is, lothe pointers might indicate a certain approximate amount otl cross bearing,V but at. the same time the bearing mightbe heavy at both large ends or at bot-h small ends of the gear vtooth and the pointers represent at thev best only an approximate means for securing this measurement.

One ot the objectsl therefore, ot my invention is to` enable the operators .to accurately produce any given amountoi cross bearing" to suit a given condition of mounting; j

For example, in case the pinion axis is machined 0.020 below the axis of' the gear,

the bevel gear testing machine herein de scribed may be adjusted to meet this condition in an accurate, definite 'manner and may 'also be used in cases where the gear mounting or housing has a deiinite amount o'lfspringor distortion under load.

4" The machine is also peculiarly adapted lor testing the teeth ot vspiral vbevel gears j `which are frequently warped by heat treat-- ment in such a manner that the bearzng originally produced in the vsoit or green gears is altered. That is, the unwinding ol? the spiral tooth, due to the contraction, crosses the bearing and it becomes necessary to 'put the opposite cross7 in the bearing ot' the green gear so that an even, full or central bearing may be secured in the finished hardened gear.

Another common characteristic of the spiral bevel gear is what is known to the trade as bias bearing which insteadv ot following natural yadial lines is inclined 1924. Serial N0. 711,903

the. tooth showing bias bearing inclined in the opposite direction and ditt'erent bias bearing` varies in different combinations otl gearing in a manner known to'those skilled in the art.

Owing to thebias nature of spiral bevel gear contact it is diliicult, to properly cross the bearing in'sueh a manner as to allow for hardening changes and it a proper protile bearing is secured at opposite ends of the tooth', it is very liable to lose its correct 70 profile and become lame when the bearing is cuncrossed in hardening and takes its central position. y

Aside from this, the .amount of cross given is entirely a matter of judgment on the part ot. the operator and as the amount ot inclination ot bias bearing varies with each geared combination, it takes the most expert judgment to secure even roughly approximate results.

lith this .measuring machine by raising` or by lowering, thel pinion axis is placed above oi below that ot the gear as may be required .and by securing an even central bearing ot the desired profile, a duplicate bearing will be assured in case the amount of distortion or unwinding has been properly gauged; that is, that this unwinding has in effect, placed the'pinion axis into engagement with that ot' lthe gear and this invention niay be employed to accurately measure the result of various conditions of heat treating asgmay be employed, or different grades of steel.

lt is practically impossible to accurately judge theamount ot' cross bearing from the appearance ot' the bearing and as this judgmentA must be .extended to cover the eliect ot the bias bearing;7 is apparent that any mechanism which will render this test 1norepositive would be a distinct advance in the art, and one ot the main objects oi' the present invention is toprovide a ma- -chine for that purpose.

pinion spindle in a line perpendicular to its axis or more partitailarly, by raising the axis oit one spindle above or below its natie ral intersection with the axis ot the other spindle or by rendering either spindle askew any desired amount within tolerable. limits.

Other objects and uses relating to specitic. parts olE the device `will be brought out in the 'following description.

In the drawings :g

Figure l is a top plan ot one type of ma chine. for carrying out the various objects ot the invention showing a crown gear and piniini in section as intermeshing with each other for testing the accuracy ot the teeth ot the pinion.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectionalview taken on line iL-2i Figure l.

Figure 3 is a vert-ical sectional view taken on line I3-l` Figure l.

VFigure t Yis a top plan similar to Figure l, showing two intermesl'iing crown gears ot opposite obliquity as required for the mspeetion of spiral bevel gears.

As illustrated, this testing machine oomprises a supporting base or traine -1 having a vertical journal bearing -2 and a horizontal. guideway ^5 extending radiali)`- 'from the axis oil" the bearing Q- a t one side thereof :tor receiving and guiding a suitable carriage man for the gear suppinting arbor presently described.

:t rotary and axially movable sleeve 5- is journaled in the upright bearing -2- and has its lower end threaded at -G and engaged with a stationary nut `7 on the lower end of the bearing to cause said sleeve to be raised and lowered as it rotated in reverse directions.

The upper portion ot the sleeve is pro vided. with axially elongated peripheral teeth Si coiistituting a worm gear adapted to be engaged bv a tangential worm MSW which is secured to a horizontal shaft M5L- the latter being journaled in suitable lieariugs on the base -l-- and is provided with a hand crank 10d by which it 1na}7 be rotated tor imparting rotary motion to the sleeve and incidentally, moving the sleeve axially through the medium of the stationary nut -7.

The carriage 4.- is provided with a horizfzontal bearing --`l1- in which is journaled a tubular mandrel or arbor -12 having means at one end `lior receiving and supporting a bevel crown gear as -A-, the opposite end being provided with a worm gear -l3- adapted to be engaged by a worm niet.

The testgear A is clamped to the arbor -12- by means ot a bolt -l5- extendingl through the arbor coaxial therewith and splined therein for axial movement and has its inner end provided with a T-head (---J- adapted to engage a clamping plate to hold the same against a clamping collar -l$- on the arbor www; the, outer end ol said bolt being threaded and engaged by a hand nut -lw for tightening and loosening the gear -A- on the arbor -lQ-. i

The worm #14- is secured to a drive shaft -l9-- having a pulley 20 adapted to be connected to any available source of power lor rotating the arbor with the gear lhe carriage -lwith the arbor 412- thereon may he adjusted axially ot said arbor by means oi? a screw -QL- which is journaled in suitable bearings in the traine l and is adapted to engage a nut Q2- on the underside oit the carriage :tor re eiprocating said farriage as the screw is rotated in reverse directions and thereby to move the gear -A axially toward and 'troni the axis of the sleeve 5-, lor gears olf dill'ierent sizes.

The outer end of the screw 2lis provided with a hand crank Q3- byivhich it may be rotated and is also provided with a graduated circular scale m24- registering with a lixed mark on the adjacent end ot' the :trame v.lmto indicate the position or amount ol axial adjustment of the gear lt relatively to the axis of the sleeve mo.

The T-head w16- of the clamping bolt l5- is passed through a diametrically elongated slot -ITM in the plate 17- so that when the bolt loosened, the plate -lT- may be turned to one position ilor quick removal from the bolt and to another position tor tightening, thus permitting the gear f&-- to be expeditiously placed in operative position and removed.

vertical arbor is jonrnaled in the sleeve -ow to rotate .independently thereof, but is held therein against relativo axial movement so that any vertical movement in'iparted thereto b v the rotation ot the sleeve and its engagement with the nut -i'w will be transmitted to the arbor Q5- The upper end ot this arbor is provided with a tapered bearing -2G- 'lor receiving and supporting a horizontally swinging bracket QT- which is tightly clamped upon the tapered portion QG- ot the arbor by means ot a nut 2S or equivalent clamping device whereby the bracket may be rotated freely about the axis of the arbor and also moved axially of said arbor by the axial adjustment ol the Isleeve -5-.

lllfi llo lil() This bracket 2T- is provided with a horizontal guide 'ay Q9- extending radially lrom and at one side of the axis of the arbor -25- tor receiving and supporting a pinion carriage M80* which is slidable along the guide way *2Q-- and is -rcceiving and supporting a rotary arbor w32- oncend of this arbor 32- being tapered at m33- tor receiving and supporting a bevel pinion -B- which is held gear withv which it meshes 'tor testing the accuracy of the teeth ot bothv gears.

The carriage '-304- may kbe adjusted axially' ot' the arbor along the guideway "29* by means ot a screw *3G- which is journaled in `suitable bearings in the bracket -27- and engages va nut=-37 on the underside ot the carriage, the outer .end ot said screw being provided with a hand -crank -38- by which it .may be rotated.

The object ot' providing means tor adjusting the gear supporting arbors axially is to permit them to be used in testing gears of diiterent diameters and while l lia-ve shown specilic means tor cii'ecting these adjustments, it is evident that various other devices may be employed to accomplish. the same result.

The object in providing for the rotary adjustn'ient. ot the arbor -25- and bracket i hfcarried thereby independently ot the rotary adjustment ot the sleeve -5- is to ada'pt the machine for testing bevel gears ot' diii'erent conical angles, the angular adjustment ot the bracket -27- with the Apinionsupporting arbor -32- thereon being indicated by a scale -39- on the upper 'face ot the trame 1 just below the outer end oi the bracket- 27- and concentric with the axis ot the arbor -Q-, said bracket being provided with a' pointer -ltL- movable along the scale -39-- lVhen the gears under test are accurately formed and properly adjusted tor running engagement with each other, the apexes ot their cones will be co-incident and in the same horizontal plane at vright angles to the axis otl the arbor -25- or rather the axes ot the gear supporting arbors -lZ-- and --32- will intersect each other at a point in the produced axis ot the arbor but when the gears are detormed within tolerable limits from any ot' rthe causes previously mentioned, it becomes necessary to slightly vary the relation ot the axes ot the gears under test from the positions which they would assume it accurately formed and tor this purpose it is found to belmost convenient to adjust the supporting arbor -25- for the bracket -27--, axially and thereby to effect a. bodily radial movement ot the pinion-sup-v porting arbor -32- lengthwise ot' said axis a'nd transversely of the gear supporting'k arbor ---1Q- which ot course, would in this instance shitt the apex ot the pinion cone above or below the cone apex ot Athe gear -Au according to the direction ot adjustment as may be necessary to bring the imperfect gears in to the best running relation possible.

lt is evident, however, that any other suitable means may be provided for etl'ectingthis change ot relation in the axes ot the.

ge;ir-supporting arbors without departing trom the spirit ot the invention.

As illustrated, the Zero graduation ot the scale 39 is disposed in a vertical plane passing through the axis of the bracket-sunporting mandrel at right angles to the axis ot' the gear supporting arbor l2--` the scaie extending through au arc ot at least or more from the Zero graduation to permit the testing ot the bevel gears ot di tterent conical angles or as shown in Figure +L `to permitthe testing' ot' the two crown gears as --A- and -A-. v

The main 'tea'ture ot the invention, however, consists in the provision of means tor supporting the gears under test in mesh with each other in such manner that the apexes ot their respective cones may be brought into coincident relation, or adjusted relatively to each other to vary ythat relation within certain prescribed limits commonly known as tolerance limits.

' A dia'l plate -10- is secured to the worm shaft -9 close to the outer upright tace of the trame lto rotate therewith, relatively to a lixed mark on said tace 'tor indicating the amount ot otifset ot the axis ot' the mandrel -32- above or below the horizontal plane ot' the axis ot the gear mandrel --l2- as may be necessary'to bring the gears into proper running relation to each other for testing purposes.

Then this adjustment is properly made, the gear arbor -12- with the 0'ear -A- thereon rotated somewhat slowly through the medium ot the worm lstand gear J3- thereby transmitting rotary motion to the pinion *B* in mesh therewith and any appreciable inaccuracy ot the run out ot the contacting faces ot the gear teeth will cause a perceptible rocking movement ot the bracket -Qfwhich movement will be indicated by the pointer --/i0- on the scale S9- and will determine just what tooth or teeth requirecorrection.

lVhat I claim is:

l. In a machine for testing bevel gears, a frame, a support mounted on said ,trame` a spindle adapted to carry a bevel gear journaled in said support` a second support pivotally mounted on said traine 'for mov ment about an axis intersecting the axis of said spindle, a spindle, adapted to carry a second bevel gear, journaled in said lastnamed support, means for adjusting said last named support axially on its pivotal llt) .lil

axis lo nlol'e lille seeond spindle bodily ill parallel plalle.-- lllelllle` for rolling; lille gears together and cooperating llleans on said second support and 'ranle lor indicating tlle anlonnl o'l anypilol'al lnol'enlellt oli lille aelzond support eallsed by illlperlection ill llle nleell oilI tlle gears.

lll a n'laelline 'lol' testing bevel gears, a frallle, a pailI ol rotatable spindles, one ol wlliell is adapted to Carry a nlaieter gear and lille olller, lille bevel gear lo be tesled, a Support lor ellell ol said epilldles` lllolllllell on said il'lalne. one of said Supporte being` nlorable about all axle al4 right anglesy to tlle axis ol talle Spindle. earried by lille ollllel Support, nlealla for adjnel-ting;- said sopporta relatively lio earll otller to bring' tlle lnaSter `rear and gear to be tested into engagement in lille propel' tangential plane, nleana :lor moving one of said Supporta bodil)T in parallel planeav to oll'set tile allie ol llle epindle Carried thereby relative to lllle axle oi l'lle otller Spindle, ll'leanf; lor india-aline; tlle alnollllt ol Snell adjnsl'nlen', nleana lol' lo liatillg` lille spindlea to roll tlle gears logelillel and eooperatingnleansl on :laid nlollable allppert and l'ranle lor indicating tlle an'llllnll' ol all)v pivotal nlolenlellt ol ille lllol'able Support calleelfl lj an;v illlpelleetion ill ille illes-ll oli llle `gears.

El. In a lllaellille liol' testineY bevel ejellrs. a l`ra1lle, a carriage slidably lllollnlell on said liranle, a spindle, adapted to Carry :l bevel gear, jollrnaled ill llaid earl-lage means 'lor alljlleliing said Carriage on tlle lranle to nlol'e it axially ol said spindle, a bracket pivotalll' lllonnled on said 'ran'le lfor nlovenient about all allie intersecting tbe axle ol. said apilldle. a carriage .Qlidably lllolllllell on Slaid braeltet, a spindle, adapted 'lo e: l'l a eeeond bevel nella 'jollrllaled ill Said last llallled eal'liare, llleana` AIol,x adjnfllingg 'ille laat llallled earliage on l@aid bl'aelet to lllole it axially olf lille epilldle earl-led tllereby, nleall` for adjustingi said braell'et bodilyY in parallel planes ill tlle direetion olf pivotal axis, llleal'ln 'l'or indicatingl l'lle alllollnl of #aid adjustment. llleane` For rotating Said spindles lio roll l'lle geara tegel-ller, and eooperating;` lllean` on Said braeliet and Al'l'anle 'for illdicatillfl` tlle alnollnli ol allav pivolal nlovelllenl' ol. I@aid bracket rallael'l by all)Y illl pel'leetion ill llle n'lesll el said gears.

bl. In a lllaellille lor testing bevel gears, a

lfrallle, a sleeve axially nlovable ill said l'rallle, a carriage elidallllr nlonl'lted oll said lranle, a apilldle, adapted to carry a bevel `eear, jllllrnaled in said carriage, all arbor jonrllalel'l in said sleeve for rotation about an axis illliereeel'ilnel tlle axis oil the first spindle, a bracket secured to tlle arbor, a carriage elidabl'llf nlollnted on said bracket, a s-fpilldle. adapted to earl-y a bevel gear, jollrllaled in the eel-ond carriage, means for alljllaliingj llle sleeve axially to move tlle bracket earlied lilleleb)l bodily ill parallel planea ill a direction at right angles to the lirsl; apindle, means) for indicating tlle alllollnt ol Snell adjustment, nleans for rotatillel Said spindle/e` to roll lille geara together, and cooperating' nleans on said bracket and 'lranle Vfor indieating;l ille an'lonnt ol anlT pivotal lllovelllenli ol' tbe braeliet eaneed by any illlpel'l'eetion in l'lle mesll of the gears.

Il. ln a lnaellille for teelling bevel gears, a `lflallle providel'l ll'itll a vertical `iournal bearille'. a nllt carried by Said ililallle, a rotatably and l ',ialllv movable sleeve jonrnalell ill said bearing and provided lvitll a threaded p0rlloll adapt-ed to eooperal'e ll'illl said nllt` a ral-ringe :slidabllv lnollnted on said iframe for :ldjlletnlellt l'llereon in a direction radial of tbe lll-ia oli' said sleeve, a spindle adapted to rall' l' a bevel Lear journals-ld in said ear ria,:e, all arbor jollrnaled in said sleeve lor lllolell'lelll'I about an axis` intersectingtbe atie of said spindle, a horizontally swine;- .illlf bracket eeenred to said arbor, a carriage slidallly nlolnlted on said bracket lor adjustnlellt lllereon in a direction radial o'lE lillel axis ot l-aid Sleeve, a Spindle, adapted to carry a Second bevel gear, jollrnaled ill said. l'farrillae. lllezlns 'lor rotating Said arbol' to .ilnpart tllelelxo an axial movement lio n'love l'lle braeltel: earried l'llel'ell;1 bodily ill pal-al lol planesy to vary lille relation between llle axes; o l'I lille two spindles. means for indicating lille alnonnt oil .f-faid bodily7 lnovenlelll', lne-alle lol: rotatingr eaid spindles lio canse lille ,eearel to roll together, and cooperating lllelllle on Said bracket and liralne for indi,- eating tl l anlollnl ol" an)T angular lnolelllent ol" llle braellet eallsed by any illlperfeetione1 ill llle lneall of" tbe genre.

,ln wilnees wlleleol' l llave llerenlllio leet lav band lillie Slet day ojlf Marell, 19241-7.

UHARI'JICS ll. LOGUE. 

